Repurpose with a Purpose
BY HARRY COHAN
Every Thursday as early as 9, shoppers begin lining up outside Rye Presbyterian Church, but when the doors open at 10 there is no fear of being trampled under the feet of a Best Buy Black Friday stampede. At the RPC Thrift Shop, people can enjoy a shopping adventure of equal excitement, but with civility.
The RPC Thrift Shop is staffed by nearly 50 volunteers. Although run by the church’s Women’s Association, volunteers are both church and non-church members, male and female, and come in all ages.
The shoppers are equally as diverse. They are locals who come in search of a new set of dinnerware, dealers who resell the many items they find, and curious people who want to poke around in hopes of finding a special treasure tucked away. Last week, women from the Harrison High School Drama department purchased an antique clock, silver coffee pot, and a statue to use as props for their current production. In the past, customers have been lucky enough to find valued art and gold jewelry.
With friendly, familiar faces around each corner, the thrift shop has an inviting atmosphere and a strong sense of community. Volunteers can spend their time working for a good cause. Cheryl Flood said, “Now that I’m retired, I love being able to ‘give back’ by working with the wonderful, fun women and men who keep the Thrift Shop going!”
With the motto of “Repurpose with a Purpose,” it is clear that the store’s goal is to give back to the community. Every year, all proceeds from sales are distributed to a variety of local nonprofits. In 2019, a total of $80,000 was given out to nineteen organizations, most with a focus on helping women and children. Flood, who was the director of RPC Nursery School for many years, said, “Personally, I have always been indebted to the Women’s Association and the Thrift Shop for their initial grant to start up the RPNS Scholarship fund in 1991, and their ongoing grant every year since then.”
If you want to help, bring your gently used goods to the store.
